Knitting machine



Feb. 4, 1936. r e. W. LINDLEY KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1932 7 Shgts-Sheet 1 N NUNLN Mg QM W MW I N VEN TOR:

' (J'wrge WLm alley,

ATTORNEYS.

Feb.4 ,193 6.' G.- w. LINDLIEY 2,029,879-

. KNITTING MACHINE v Filed Dec. 25, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

% Q I BY lieu/ye Wz'igdley,

Feb. 4, 1936. j b Ey 2,029,879

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 25, 1952' j 7 Sheets-sheet a.

Feb. 4, 1936. G. w. LINDLEY KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: fiearye WLindley,

A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 4, 1936. s. w. LINDLEY 2,029,379

KNITTING MAUI-[MINE Filed Dec. 25, 1952 7 Sheets -Sheet 6 FIG 1K.

55 j i 1 w fi FIG. 1Y1

WITNESSES I 91 INVENTOR:

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNITTING MACHINE George W. Lindley, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application December 23, 1932, Serial No. 648,524

15 Ciaims. (Cl. 66-84) This invention relates to flat knitting machines; showing the means for laying the elastic inlay and it has reference more particularly to what are yarn between the opposing chain loops formed by known as warp knitting machines wherein opthe two banks of needles of the machine.

posing sets of needles are reciprocated contrari- Fig. VIII is a detail illustration viewed as indiwise en masse, and wherein warp yarns are indicated by the arrows VIII--VIII in Fig. VII. 5 vidually served to the needles by shiftable os- Fig. IX is a detail sectional view taken as indicillating guides or feeds. cated by the arrows IX-IX in Fig. I.

In its broadest aspect, my invention is directed Fig. X is a detail sectional view taken as inditoward improvements in connection with knitcated by the arrows IX-IX in Fig. II. ting machines of the specifically mentioned type Fig. XI is a fragmentary detail view of the 10 which will enable production of porous elastic pattern and measuring chain of the machine.

fabrics suitable to the manufacture of corsets, Fig. XII is a diagrammatic fragmentary view therapeutic garments, etc. of one form of elastic fabric such as may be pro- An object of my invention is to provide recipduced with the machine of my invention; and rocating carrier means capable of laying elastic Fig. XIII is a fragmentary detail sectional view 15 weft yarn between the loop rows respectively of the fabric on an exaggerated scale showing diaformed by the opposing needle sets of the magrammatically how the chain loops knit by the chines from the individual warp yarns, in such two banks of the needles are interconnected to manner as to avoid tensioning of said weft yarn embrace the elastic inlay y g and distortion of the resulting fabric. The knitting machine herein illustrated is, gen- Another object of my invention is to provide erally Speaking, o Standard and Well known automatic means Capable o ian ly controlsign and construction, with a frame comprising ling active and inactive periods of the reciprocattwo main transverse members 15, l 6, and a numing weft yarn carrier, to predetermine in the fabber of lengthwise girts, whereof one is indicated ric, sections of definite lengths which are characat l I in Fig. I, that rigidly connect the said transterized by porous infield areas and solid knit borverse members in definitely p d relationders and which are separated by transverse cut- Supported betw t e frame members ting intervals wherefrom the inlay weft is entirely at the longitudinal Cen er of t machine, vare omitted. the usual counter-inclined knock-over plates I8,

A further object of my invention is to provide 9, (F g- D- AS w these Plates 30 regulatable means whereby the feeding of the cl sely approach each other at their top edges so elastic warps to the needles may be accurately as to form a narrow slit for passage of the fabric controlled for maintenance of a definite and uni- F which is produced jointly by the two opposed form tension on them in instances where lengthsets of needles indicated at 20, 2|. After passing wise stretching of the fabric is desirable, likewise downward through the interval between the 35 wit-h a view toward insuring evenness of texture knock-over plates l8, I9, the fabric is guided and preventing distortion. around an idler roll 22 (Fig. III) and thereby Still other objects and attendant advantages directed horizontally to the rear of the machine of this invention will be manifest from the defor passage about and between a group of vertitailed description following of the attached drawcally arranged draft rolls 23, 24, 25 which are 40 ings, wherein Fig. I is a rear elevation of a warp journalled at their E ds in brackets 27 knitting machine conveniently incorporating the cured to the transverse'frame components l5, l6.

present improvements. All themovements of the machine are derived II WS the r ght hand end elevation of from a longitudinally-extending main shaft 28 the machine. supported for rotation in suitable bearings af- 45 Fig. III is a fragmentary cross sectional view of forded by the transverse frame members l5, I6. the machine taken as indicated by the arrows Power for driving the machine is provided by an III-III in Fig. I and drawn to a larger scale. electric motor indicated at 29 in Figs. I and II,

Fig. IV is a horizontal detail sectional view likeand transmitted, at greatly reduced speed wise drawn to alarger scale taken as indicated by through a tra n of Sp g Wheels 39, 3|, 50 I the arrows IVIV in Fig. I. 33 and 34, to the main shaft 28. The draft V a VI are fragmentary detail sectional rollers 23-45 are intergeared for rotation in univiews taken as indicated respectively by the arson, and intermittently actuated through pickrows VV and VI-V'I in Fig. IV. ing of a ratchet wheel 35 by a pawl 36 at the Fig. VII is a fragmentary detail plan view end of an arm 31. which is free on the shaft 38 55 of the ratchet, and oscillated by virtue of an eccentric rod connection 39 with the main shaft 28. The ratchet shaft 38- is supported by a bracket 21 and coordinated with the lowermost roller 23 of the draft group 23-25 by a pair of spur gears 40, H, see Fig. II. The horizontal angle bars 2, 43 (Fig. III) carrying the needle banks 20, 2t are attached to vertical slide bars 4 3, 35 which are confined to up and down movement in guides 46, 3? secured to the in sides of the transverse frame. members I5, I0. The needle banks 20, 2t are reciprocated contrariwise to form successive fabric loops in a known manner, by rotary cams 48, 49 (Fig. I) on the main shaft 28, said cams acting upon roller arms 50, I with connection to the lower ends of the slide bars 44, I5.

Reaching upward from the transverse components I5, I6 of the machine frame are supplemental brackets52, 53 that rotatively support overhead beams 55, 55 wherefrom warp yarns 1/, y are individually supplied to the needles of the banks 29, 2I, said yarns passing en route over pivotally suspended spreader bars 56, 5'! which extend lon itudinally of the front and back of the machine, and which are urged outward yieldingly by springs 55a, 51a, see Fig. II. The beams 59, 55 are held in restraint by friction bands 58, 59 which are subject to adjustable tension springs 58a, 58a as best shown in Fig, IX. The guide fingers relied upon to feed the yarns y, y

- to the needles 28, 2I are indicated at 60, BI, and,

as usual, are carried by horizontal rods 62, 63, which are hung, with capacity for being individually shifted endwise, on brackets 64 pendant from a horizontal rock shaft 65 with journal support in bearings 58, 6? atop the transverse frame members I5, I5. oscillatory motion is imparted to the rock shaft 65 by a side groove cam 68 on the main shaft 28', the interposed connections including a roller link 89 and an arm I0 secured to said shaft at one end. The shifting of the yarn guide rod 88, (Si is determined by a cam wheel 'II at the left hand end of the machine, see Fig. I, mounted on a stud axis 12 of a bracket 13 which is secured to the transverse frame member I5. In this instance the cam wheel II is formed with alternate circumferential high and low spots to influence bell crank levers 14 which are pivoted on the bracket 13 and individually coupled with the yarn guide rods 60, 6I by hook links I5. Springs 16 (Fig. I) yieldingly draw the yarn guides 60, 6! rightward and accordingly maintain the rollers on the bell crank levers I4 always in operative contact with the cam wheel II.

In adapting a warp knitting machine such as briefly described up to this point to produce porous or open mesh elastic fabric such as shown in Figs. XII and XIII, characterized by spaced doubled strands of a comparatively heavy elastic yarn Y inlaid between doubled interconnected loops 1, l of laterally spaced detached chains C of the warp yarns y, y, hereinbefore mentioned, I make provisions as follows:

Slidingly mounted on a bar 80 (Figs. I, II, III, VII and VIII) extending longitudinally of the rear of the machine approximately .at the level of the needles 28, 2|, is a block 8i which carries an apertured guide finger 82 for the heavy elastic inlay yarn Y. En route to the guide finger 82,

the yarn Y is first directed through an eye 83 supported by a rod 84 which extends between the brackets 52, 53 at the top of the machine and then through a traveller. ring 85 free on .a parallel wire 86, said yarn being supplied without tension from a suitable bulk source, not shown. As the block 8I is slid back and forth on the bar 80 the yarn Y is laid by the finger 82 between the loops formed respectively on the needles 20, 2| as shown in Fig. III. In order to prevent fouling of the yarn Y by the rear set of needles 20 as "they rise, the guide finger 82 is supported with capacity to slide endwise in the block 8I so that, at each end of its strokes, it may be moved inward to depress the yarn Y around the end needles of the set 2i, thereby to hold it snug against the backs of the intermediate needles of said set as shown in Fig. VII. Such inward shifting of the finger 82 is effected by a pair of cam plates 81, 88 affixed to the bar 80 beyond the end needles of the sets 20, 2I, upon the outer end of the finger in opposition to a tension spring 89, the outward movement of said finger being limited by contact of a stud 90 thereon with the block 8I, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. VII. Leaf springs 9I, 92 (Figs. VII and VIII) operateto frictionally hold the block BI against rebounding as it strikes the limiting stops 81a, 88a whereto the cam plates 81, 88 are directly secured. A pair of longitudinally extending guide wires 93, 94 immediately above the needles 28, 2i, prevent interference of the inlay yarn server 82 with the warp yarns y, 1/.

From Fig. I it will be noted that the guide bar 80 for the slide block BI extends beyond the transverse frame member I6 at the right hand end of the machine, and that it is there supported by a strut 95 upstanding from a' supplemental end frame member 96 which is connected by girts 91 to said frame member I6. As a means for shifting the slide block 8i back and forth on the bar .mutilated bevel gears I01, I08 are secured to a longitudinal shaft IIO which is journalled at its opposite ends in the frame members I6, 96, and carries a spur gear I I I in mesh with a spur pinion I I2 on the main shaft 26. The proportioning of the gearing just described is such as to determine a half revolution of the shaft I 05 in each direction, this motion being sufficient to cause the yarn finger 82 to be traversed the length of the needle sets 20, 2I in each direction. Excess rotation of the shaft I05 under its own momentum is prevented by a stop disk H3, (Figs. II and X) which is secured to said shaft and formed in its periphery with diametral notches I I4 for engagement respectively by a pair of detents II5. As shown in Fig. X, these detents II5 are pivoted to the supplemental end frame member 96 of the machine and urged into contact with the periphcry of the stop disk H3 by a connecting tension spring H6.

In order that the serving of the inlay yarn Y may be interrupted when desired or required, a suitable clutch II] is provided for disconnecting the gear wheel I II at such times, from the shaft I I0. This clutch I I1 is controlled by another cam wheel II8 located at the left hand end of the machine (Fig. I) beneath the cam wheel "II here- Inbefore referred to, said cam wheel having alternate high and low spots in its circumference and being free to rotate about a shaft II9 journalled at one end in the bracket I3, and at the other is continuously rotated, through the medium of a pair of intermeshing spur gears I32, I33 (Figs. IV and V), from the shaft I I9 whereon the cam wheel I I8 is loosely mounted; and said shaft H9 is in turn driven by a pair of intermeshing bevel gears I34, I35 from the main shaft 28. In this connection it is to be noted that the cam wheel 'IIfor actuating the yarn guide fingers 60 and GI is constantly rotated by a train of gears I36, I31 and I38 (Figs. I and IV) from the shaft II9. Pawling of the cam wheel H8 is governed by an endless pattern and measuring chain I39, which, after rounding a sprocket pinion I40 on the shaft I H adjacent the shaft I3I (Figs. I, IV, V and VI) passing downward about guide rollers I42, I43 and then horizontally along the rear of the machine from the left hand end to an idler sprocket I44 at the right hand end. As shown in Fig. VI, the pattern and measuring chain I39 has high links I39a to under-ride a stud projection I45 on one extremity of a bell crank lever I46 fulcrumed at I41. The other extremity of the bell crank lever has a stud projection I48 that underreaches the pawl I26. Accordingly, as each high link I39a of the chain I39 actuatesthe bell crank lever I46, the pawl I 26 is lifted to prevent picking of the cam wheel IIB which controls the clutch II! of the mechanism whereby the inlay yarn Y is served. The shaft I 4| for the drive sprocket I40 of the pattern and measuring chain I39 is intermittently rotated through picking of a ratchet wheel I49 thereon by a pawl I50 actuated by another eccentric disk I5I on the shaft I3I, see Fig. V. The cam wheel H6 is restrained against free rotation by a clamp brake shown at I52 in Fig. I. With the machine arranged as described, the laterally elastic strip fabric F (Fig. XII) produced by it is subdivided, by intervals i from which the inlay yarn Y is entirely omitted, into sections of a definite length such as indicated at S. As shown, each section S is characterized by a porous infield area A and solid borders B at opposite ends in which the weft yarn Y is incorporated with each course of interconnected chain loops 1, 1' formed from the warp yarns y, y. After cutting the loop chains C crosswise through the intervals 1, the cut edges of the sections Sare bound against ravelling by overedge stitching or looping in a manner commonly practiced in connection with edge finishing of knit goods. Variant laying of the elastic weft yarn Y to produce sectional strip fabric as just explained is predetermined by suitably arranging the high links I390. of the. pattern and measuring chain I39 as shown in Fig. XI. Thus close placement of the links I39a as at L in Fig. XI determines the solid borders B of the fabric F (Fig. XII), and uniform spacing of the links as at M determine the porous knit areas A, while the closely grouped links at N determine the cutting intervals 2'. By using two plain links between contiguous high links I39a of the chain I39 in the portions M, it is possible to predetermine single strand laying of the inlay yarn Y instead of the doubling of said yarn as exemplified in Fig. XII. Also, by rearranging the cam wheel II (Fig. I) which controls the shogging of. the warp yarn feeds 60, 6 I, it is possible to predetermine lateral interconnection of the loop chains C (Fig. XII) in a 'manner which will be readily understood by those skilled in the use of warp knitting machines. In the skips or open intervals of the fabric, the spaced strands of the inlay yarn Y are vertically connected by continuance along the right hand selvage edge of the fabric.

To produce knit fabric which is elastic only in one direction, I preferably employ either cotton or silk yarns y, y to form the double loops 1, l as in Fig. XIII. When elasticity in both directions is desired however, I use yarns y of silk or hensively designated by the numeral I53 in Figs.

I and II. As illustrated, this tension control mechanism I53 comprises a roughened or sandpaper covered drum I54 placed alongsidethe In order to maintain the beam 55 over which the yarns 11/ are passed on their way to the knitting instrumentalities of 5;

the machine. ,The shaft I55 of the drum I54 is suitably journalled at its endsin the brackets 52, 53, and carries a spur gear I56 that meshes with a spur pinion I5'I, the latter being mounted on a shaft I 58 together with a ratchet wheel I59. This ratchet wheel I59 is pickedby a pawl I60 at the end of an oscillating arm I6I free to oscillate on the ratchet shaft I 58.. By means of a-link I62, the arm I6I is pivotally connectedwith provision for adjustment, to one extremity of a lever I63 centrally fulcru'med at I64 to the bracket 53 and whereof the other extremity is pivoted, likewise with capacity for adjustment, to the upper end of a drop link I65, the lower endof the said link being in turn pivotally connected to the eccentric link 39 hereinbefore described in connection with the fabric takeup mechanism. As a consequence of the last described arrangement, the yarns y are positively progressed a predetermined increment during each rotation of the a main shaft 28 to supply a definite amount of yarn y at a uniform tension to the needles 20, 2| for each course of the knitting, with resultant production of fabric which is free from distortion. The amount of yarn so supplied may be increased or decreased as desired or required through ad-' justment of the pivotal connections of the links I62, I65 with the centrally-fulcrumed lever I63.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the machine of my invention is adaptable to the knitting rier inward at the completion of its strokes in opposite directions to hold the inlay yarn against ,the backs'of the needles of one set when such needles are raised, and thereby to prevent it from being fouled as the other set of needles rises.

2. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing contrariwise actuated sets of needles; shiftable feeds for serving individual warp yarns to the needles; a reciprocating carrier to lay weft yarn between the loops respectively formed by the needles of the twosets for incorporation in the fabric produced by the machine; and means for automatically thrusting said carrier inward at the completion of its strokes in opposite directions to hold the weft yarn taut but without tension, against the backs of the needles of one set when such needles are raised, and thereby to prevent it from being fouled as the other set of the needles rises.

3. In a warp knitting machine comprising two opposing contrariwise actuated sets of needles; shiftable fingers for serving individual warp yarns to the needles; a reciprocating guide finger for laying weft yarn, taut but without tension, between the loops respectively fcrmed by the two sets of needles to incorporate it in the fabric produced by the machine; a slide for the finger; a spring normally holding the finger retracted in the slide; and cam means for automatically thrusting the finger inward at the end of its strokes in opposite directions, to hold the weft yarn, taut but without tension, against the backs of the needles of one set when such needles are raised, and thereby to prevent it from being fouled as the other set-of needles rises.

4. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds to serve individual warp yarns to the needles; a reciprocating carrier for laying weft yarn between the loops re spectively formed by the needles of the two sets for incorporation in the fabric produced by the machine; and mechanism for reciprocating he carrier including a chain, a drive sprocket therefor, a bevel gear pinion coordinated with the sprocket, a pair of coaxially-mounted opposing mutilated bevel gears to reversely actuate the bevel pinion, and means to drive the bevel gears.

5. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds for serving individual warp yarns to the needles; a reciprocating carrier for laying weft yarn between the loops respectively formed by the needles of the two ,sets for incorporation inthe fabric produced by disconnected from its drive means, and automatic' means for controlling the clutch to determine variant active and inactive periods of the weft thread carrier.

6. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds for serving Warp yarns individually'to the needles; a reciprocating carrier to lay weft yarn between the loops respectively formed by needles of the two sets for incorporation in the fabric produced by the machine; a chain connected to the carrier; a sprocket wheel engaging the chain; drivemeans for reversely actuating the sprocket wheel; a clutch whereby the sprocket may be disconnected from its drive means; a cam wheel with high and low spots to control shifting of the clutch in determining active and inactive periods of the weft thread carrier; a pattern chain with high links; and interposed means governed by the high links of the pattern chain for intermittently rotating the cam wheel aforesaid to determine variant active and inactive periods of the weft yarn carrier.

'7. In a warp knitting machine, a set of needles; shiftable means for serving individual elastic yarns to the needles; means for actuating the needles to form fabric from the elastic yams; a draft roller for drawing the knitted fabric .from the needles; means for intermittently rotating the draft roller; a beam holding a supply of the elastic yarns; means for restraining the beam against free rotation; a feed roller over which the elastic yarns are passed en route from the supply beam to the needles; and means actuated by the take-up roller progressing means aforesaid, for likewise intermittently rotating the feed roller, thereby to control feeding of the elastic yarns to the needles at a uniform rate and tension.

8. In a warp knitting machine, a set of neeyarns are passed en route from the supply beam to the needles; and racking means actuated through connections with the eccentric aforesaid for intermittently rotating the feed roller, to control feeding of the elastic yarns to the needles at a uniform rate and tension.

9. In a warp knitting machine, a set of needles; shiftable means for serving individual elastic yarns to the needles; a shaft with interposed connections for actuating the feed and the needles to form fabric from the elastic yarns; a draft roller for drawing the knitted fabric from the needles; racking means for the draft roller actuated by an eccentric on the shaft aforesaid;

a beam holding a supply of the elastic yarn;

means for restraining the beam against free rotation; a feed roller over which the elastic yarns are passed en route from the supply beams to the needles; racking means for intermittently rotating the feed roller to control feeding of the elas- :2

tie yarns to the needles at a uniform rate and tension; and interposed means whereby the racking means for the feed roller is actuated from the eccentric aforesaid, the last mentioned racking means embodying adjustable provisions whereby the extent of racking of the feed roller may be varied to change the feeding rate and tension of the elastic yarns.

10. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds for serving individual elastic warp yarns to the needles; means for controlling the rate and tension at which the elastic warp yarns are fed to the needles; a re- 11. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds for servingindividual elastic warp yarns to the needles; means for definitely controlling the rate and tension at which the elastic warp yarns are fed to the needles; a reciprocating carrier for laying weft yarn between the loops respectively formed by the two sets of needles from the elastic warp yarns to incorporate such weft yarn in the fabric produced by the machine; and means for variantly controlling active and inactive periods of the weft yarn carrier to determine a porous infield texture and close knit borders in separated sections of the fabric, as well as transverse cutting intervals in which the weft yarn is entirely absent.

12. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds for serving individual elastic warp yarns to the needles; means for definitely controlling the rate and tension at which the elastic warp yarns are fed to the needles; means for laying elastic weft yarn, taut but without tension, between the loops respectively formed by the two sets of needles from the elastic warp yarns, to incorporate such weft yarn in the fabric produced by the machine; and means for controlling active and inactive periods of the weft yarn laying means to determine a porous texture in the fabric.

' 13. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds to serve individual weft yarncarrier; drive means for the reversing rotary means; and pattern means controlling connection and disconnection of the reversing rotary means to and from the drive means to determine active and inactive periods of theweft yarn carrier.

14. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds to serve individual warp yarns to the needles; a reciprocating carrier for laying weft yarn between the loops respectively formed by the two sets of needles to incorporate it in the fabric produced by the ma chine; and mechanism for reciprocating the weft yarn carrier including a chain, a sprocket therefor, rotary reversing means for said sprocket, drive means for the rotary reversing means, and pattern means controlling connection and disconnection of the rotary reversing means to and from the drive means to determine active and inactive periods of the weft yarn carrier.

15. In a warp knitting machine, two opposing sets of needles; shiftable feeds to serve individual warp yarns to the needles; a reciprocating carrier for laying weft yarn between the loops respectively formed by the two sets of needles to terposed instrumentalities controlling connection and disconnection of the rotary reversing means to and from the drive means to determine active and inactive periods of the weft yarn carrier.

GEORGE W. LINDLEY.

cat 

